US HB531

Amends the South Pacific Tuna Act of 1988 to update definitions, including redefining "fishing vessel" to mean commercial purse seine fishing vessels for tuna and revising the "licensing area" to exclude internal waters, territorial seas, archipelagic waters, and closed areas of Pacific Island Parties.

Adds new prohibited acts including violating regional terms and conditions attached to licenses by the Administrator and violating any limit on authorized fishing effort or catch.

Repeals the existing exceptions provision (Section 6) and the observers provision (Section 14), while updating criminal offenses and civil penalty provisions to align with renumbered sections.

Establishes new confidentiality protections for information provided by the Administrator, collected by observers, or submitted for compliance, while permitting disclosure for enforcement, court orders, treaty administration, and international fisheries organization requirements.

Authorizes the Secretary and Secretary of State to provide technical assistance, training, capacity building, and private sector partnership facilitation to Pacific Island Parties to support fisheries development.